Unknown

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a refrigerator and/or freezer unit which has at least one control or regulation unit or which is or can be connected thereto, wherein at least one component of the unit can be directly or indirectly controlled or regulated by means of the control or regulation unit, wherein the control or regulation unit or a communication unit connected or connectable thereto has at least one receiving device by means of which at least one signal can be received from an external transmitter unit, said signal being correlated with least to one property of the energy required for operating the unit. In accordance with the invention, the control or regulation unit is configured such that it interrupts the operation of the named component in dependence on the signal received by the receiving device for the purpose of shedding the load of the refrigerator and/or freezer unit at times.

The present invention relates to a refrigerator and/or freezer unit which has at least one control or regulation unit or which is or can be connected thereto, wherein at least one component of the unit can be controlled or regulated by means of the control or regulation unit, wherein the control or regulation unit or a communication unit connected or connectable thereto has at least one receiving device by means of which at least one signal can be received from an external transmitter unit, said signal relating at least to one property of the energy required for operating the unit or being correlated with this property.

It is known from the prior art to operate refrigerator and/or freezer units in dependence on at least one property of the energy required to operate the unit. This property can, for example, be the current price of electricity. If the price of electricity is low, the refrigeration unit or the compressor can be operated in a mode in which the power consumption of the compressor is larger than in a time period in which a higher price of electricity prevails. If the price of electricity is high, the compressor is operated in a mode which is as energy-saving as possible.

It is the underlying object of the present invention to further develop a refrigerator and/or freezer unit of the initially named kind such that it meets stricter demands on energy saving.

This object is achieved by a refrigerator and/or freezer unit having the features of claim 1. Provision is accordingly made that the control or regulation unit is configured such that it interrupts the operation of the named component in dependence on the signal received by the receiving device for the purpose of shedding the load of the refrigerator and/or freezer unit at times. Provision is thus made in in accordance with the invention to suppress the operation of at least one component of the refrigerator and/or freezer unit at times in dependence on, for example, the signal received from an energy supplier or from any other office so that the power consumption of the unit is reduced for a period of time. This initiation of the load shedding can take place in the short term after or on receipt of a corresponding signal.

The named signal, which is correlated with at least one property of the energy required for the operation of the unit, such as with the price of electricity or the power consumption in a specific area, can be designed, for example, such that it can only adopt one or more specific values such as the values “0” and “1”. In this respect, the value “0” can signify that no load shedding of the unit is necessary, for instance because the power consumption lies within a specific tolerance range or below a specific limit value in an area covered by an energy provider company. If this is not the case, i.e. if the energy consumption of the unit has to be reduced, the signal can adopt the value “1”. In this case, a load shedding of the unit is carried out, i.e. the operation of at least one unit component is supported for a period of time.

It can, for example, be a rectangular signal.

It is possible in accordance with the invention to initiate standardized load variations. The information or the signal or signals is/are received wirelessly or in a wired manner by a receiver unit. The control or regulation unit influences the unit operation or the unit regulation on the basis of this information or of these signals. Data on the load regulation can be transmitted or specific, possibly standardized, load modes can be initiated, for example, via the data connection between the transmitter and the receiving device.

It is also conceivable that the absence or the presence of the signal per se signalizes whether a load shedding should be carried out or is not necessary. If a signal is applied, this may mean that a load shedding or no load shedding has to be carried out; if no signal is applied, it may mean that no load shedding or a load shedding is required.

The component in question can, for example, be at least one fan, at least one compressor and/or at least one defrost heater of an evaporator of the refrigerant circuit of the unit. It is thus possible, for example, for the purpose of a provisional load shedding of the unit, to postpone or provisionally to suspend the operation of an electrical defrost heater.

It is conceivable that the control or regulation unit and/or the communication unit is formed by an external component or that the control or regulation unit and/or the communication unit form/forms an element of a component of the refrigerator and/or freezer unit, in particular of the unit electronics.

The control or regulation unit can thus be located on an external module, i.e. on a component which does not form any element of the refrigerator and/or freezer unit. Provision is made in this case that this external unit communicates with the refrigerator and/or freezer unit via one or more data connections permanently or at least at times in a wireless or wired manner. The case is, however, also covered by the invention that the control or regulation unit represents a component of the refrigerator and/or freezer unit. It is thus possible to arrange the named control or regulation unit on the unit electronics, i.e. in the component which is responsible for the actual control and/or regulation of the refrigerator and/or freezer unit.

The same applies accordingly to the communication unit whose receiving device receives the signal or signals. It can also be arranged in an external unit or can represent a component of the unit.

Means are provided in a further embodiment of the invention by which the state in which the operation of the at least one component is suppressed, can be ended on the user side. It is thus conceivable that the user can end the standardized load mode via one or more commands such as by actuating a button or the like and/or by his behavior, such as opening the door or altering the temperature setting of the unit. If it is determined, for example, that the user opens the unit door, the suppression of the operation of the at least one component, such as the compressor, is ended since there may be an increased refrigerating requirement.

Provision can alternatively or additionally be made that the function of the suppression of the operation of the component can be activated and/or deactivated on the user side. The user can thus, for example, activate and/or deactivate the response of the unit to demands from the grid, that is, for example, the demand to carry out a load shedding, by a command via an operating device of the unit. If a deactivation is selected, the operation of the named component is not even suppressed when a corresponding signal is received on the part of the receiving device. The deactivation of the functionality can be sensible, for example, wherein an increased refrigerating requirement is present, for instance because a larger quantity of refrigerated goods or frozen goods was stored and the user wants to prevent the unit from being operated with a load shedding.

The control or regulation unit can be configured such that the suppression of the operation of the at least one component is carried out by setting at least one disable bit or disable flag.

It is thus conceivable that one or more disable bits or disable flags are set on the unit electronics, e.g. for the defrost heater and/or for the refrigeration unit. They are thereby no longer activated for the time period in which they are set which can be sensible, for example, on a demand for a short-term load shedding, for example for a period of 30 min or less. If a demand for a load shedding is no longer present, the control or regulation unit can reset the disable bit(s) or disable flag(s) again.

If a demand for a medium-term load shedding is present, for example in the, range of hours, one or more disable bits or disable flags can be set on the unit electronics. This has the consequence that an electrical defrost heater, for example, cannot be put into operation for the time period in which they are set. If a demand for a load shedding is no longer present, the control or regulation unit can reset the disable bit(s) or disable flag(s) again.

Provision is thus made in a further embodiment of the invention that the control or regulation unit is configured such that it ends the state in which the operation of the component is suppressed when a signal is received or also when no signal is received on the part of the receiver unit, from which it can be seen that a load shedding is no longer necessary, with the control or regulation unit being able to be configured such that the named ending of the state takes place by the resetting if disable bit or bits or of the disable flag or flags.

Provision can furthermore be made that the unit has means by which the position of a temperature regulator for regulating the temperature in the cooled inner space is set to the hottest desired temperature value or is adjusted by an offset value in the state of the suppression of the operation of the at least one component and/or by which the fan stopping time is extended or shortened by a specific amount.

It is thus conceivable, for example, that the refrigerator and/or freezer unit automatically uses the switch values of the hottest regulator setting during a phase in which a load shedding is required.

Alternatively or additionally, provision can be made for this purpose that the refrigerator and/or freezer unit applies one or more special offsets to the current switch values during a phase in which a load shedding is demanded. These offsets can be stored at a suitable position, such as in the parameter set of the control or regulation unit.

Means can furthermore be provided which are configured such that the state in which the operation of the at least one component is suppressed by these means is terminated after the end of a specific time period.

The length of the measure of suppressing the operation of the at least one component can be limited in time, for example, by parameters in the data set of the control or regulation unit or, for example, also of the unit electronics or of another unit. After the end of these defined times, the control or regulation unit or the unit electronics or another unit automatically ends the unit mode in which the operation of at least one component is disabled. This can take place, for example, in that the disable bit or bits or disable flag or flags and/or the above-named offset or offsets are reset.

It is conceivable that means are provided which are configured such that they prevent a repeat suppression of the operation of the at least one component for a specific time period from the point in time onward at which the suppression of the operation of the at least one component is ended. The repeat instigation of a load shedding after ending an already carried out load shedding can thus be prevented for a specific time which can be stored, for example, in the parameter set of the unit electronics or of the control or regulation unit. In this case, the unit does not respond to a corresponding demand signal.

The present invention furthermore relates to a system comprising at least one refrigerator and/or freezer unit in accordance with one of the claims 1 to 9, with the system including at least one transmitter unit by means of which the named signal can be communicated to the receiving device. The system thus includes the refrigerator and/or freezer unit in accordance with the invention as well as at least one transmitter which communicates one or more signals to the refrigerator and/or freezer unit, on the basis of which signals the load shedding may be initiated.

The invention will be explained in the following in more detail with reference to an embodiment.

The embodiment relates to a refrigerator unit/or freezer unit which is designed with at least one refrigerant circuit. This refrigerant circuit includes at least one compressor for conveying the refrigerant as well as at least one electrical defrost heater by means of which the evaporator of the refrigerant circuit can be defrosted.

Furthermore, a control or regulation unit is provided which will be called a “SmartGrid logic” in the following. This SmartGrid logic can be located, for example, on an external module which can communicate with the unit electronics via a data connection or it can be located on the unit electronics themselves which are responsible for the control or regulation of the unit.

The external module including the SmartGrid logic or the unit electronics having the SmartGrid logic receive information which influence the unit regulation via a data connection (wired or wireless). Data for load regulation can, for example, be transmitted via this data connection or specific possibly standardized load modes can be started. These modes can, for example, initiate standardized load variations.

It is conceivable that the demand of a short term load shedding is transmitted from an external transmitter unit such as from an energy provider company. This demand can, for example, signify that a load shedding is carried out by reducing the average power consumption by 50% for a duration of 10 minutes. In this case, the SmartGrid logic can set one or more disable bits or disable flags on the external module or on the unit electronics for the defrost heater and/or for the refrigeration unit (refrigerating demand). They are thereby deactivated and can no longer be put in operation for the time of the short-term load shedding. The energy consumption drops by a correspondingly high amount. If a demand for a short-term load shedding is no longer present, it is conceivable that the external communication module or the unit electronics resets these disable bits or disable flags.

It is also conceivable that the demand of a medium term load shedding (“delay load”) is output by a unit such as a central unit of an energy provider company. In this case, a load shedding has to be carried out by avoiding defrosting and by reducing the average load consumption by a fixed value, for example 9.6 W, or by a value which is oriented on the mean power consumption of the unit, for example 13, for a period of 4 h. These values naturally only represent exemplary values which do not restrict the invention. After receiving the corresponding signal, the SmartGrid logic sets one or more disable bits or disable flags on the external module or on the unit electronics for the defrost heater. They can thereby not be put into operation. If a demand for a short-term load shedding is no longer present, the external communication module or the unit electronics resets these disable bits or disable flags, which has the consequence that the defrost heater can again be used if required.

It is conceivable that the user can terminate the possibly standardized load modes by commands via the operating devices of the unit or also by his behavior, for example by the number or the point in time of the door openings or variations in the temperature setting. It is also conceivable that the user can activate and deactivate the response of the unit to demands from the grid by commands via the operating device of the unit. In this case, the user can decide whether a response is made to a corresponding demand of a, for example, short-term or medium-term load shedding or not.

It is conceivable that the unit automatically uses the switch values of the hottest regulation position during a phase in which a medium term load shedding is demanded so that a further reduction of the power consumption is achieved in this manner.

The unit can apply special offsets to the current switch values during a phase in which a medium-term load shedding is demanded. These offsets can be stored in the parameter set of the external module or also of the unit electronics.

The duration of these measures can likewise be limited in time by parameters in the data set of the external module or of the unit electronics. After the end of these defined times, the communication module or the unit electronics terminates the unit mode automatically, for example in that it resets the disable bits or disable flags and/or the offsets. It is equally possible that the duration of the load shedding is already a component of the transmitted signal which is received by the receiving device which is in turn either a component of the refrigerator unit and/or freezer unit or is connected thereto.

It is conceivable in a further embodiment of the invention that a repeat initiation of a load shedding or of a load mode is disabled for a specific time after the end of the load shedding which is stored, for example, in the parameter set of the unit electronics or of the external module and which may be individual for the respective load mode. The fan stopping time can be extended or shortened by a specific amount during the demand for a short-term or medium-term or other load shedding. This amount can also be stored in the parameter set of the unit electronics or of the external module.

On the basis of the present invention, even strict standards with respect to the SmartGrid suitability of a refrigerator unit and/or freezer unit can be satisfied, for example in the USA or also in other countries. 

1. A refrigerator unit and/or freezer unit which has at least one control or regulation unit or which is or can be connected thereto, wherein at least one component of the unit can be directly or indirectly controlled or regulated by the control or regulation unit, the control or regulation unit or a communication unit connected or connectable thereto has at least one receiving device which at least one signal can be received from an external transmitter unit, said signal being correlated with at least one property of the energy required for operating the unit, and the control or regulation unit is configured such that it suppresses the operation of the named component at times in dependence on the signal received by the receiving device for load shedding of the refrigerator unit and/or freezer unit.
 2. A refrigerator unit and/or freezer unit in accordance with claim 1, wherein the component is at least one fan, at least one compressor and/or at least one defrost heater of an evaporator of the refrigerant circuit of the unit.
 3. A refrigerator unit and/or freezer unit in accordance with claim 1, wherein the control or regulation unit and/or the communication unit is formed by an external component or the control or regulation unit and/or the communication unit form/forms an element of at least one component of the refrigerator and/or freezer unit, in particular of the unit electronics.
 4. A refrigerator unit and/or freezer unit in accordance with claim 1, wherein means are provided by which the state in which the operation of the at least one component is suppressed can be ended at the user side; and/or means are provided by which the function of the suppressing of the operation of the component can be activated and/or deactivated on the user side.
 5. A refrigerator unit and/or freezer unit in accordance with claim 1, wherein the control or regulation unit is configured such that the suppression of the operation of the at least one component is carried out by the setting of at least one disable bit or disable flag.
 6. A refrigerator unit and/or freezer unit in accordance with claim 1, wherein control or regulation unit is configured such that it ends the state in which the operation of the component is suppressed when a signal is received on the part of the receiver unit that a load shedding is no longer necessary, with the control or regulation unit being able to be configured such that the named ending of the state takes place by resetting the disable bit or disable flag.
 7. A refrigerator unit and/or freezer unit in accordance with claim 1, wherein unit has means by which the position of a temperature regulator for regulating the temperature in the cooled inner space is set to the hottest desired temperature value or is adjusted by an offset value in the state of the suppression of the operation of the at least one component and/or by which the fan stopping time is extended or shortened by a specific amount.
 8. A refrigerator unit and/or freezer unit in accordance with claim 1, wherein means are provided which are configured such that the state in which the operation of the at least one component is suppressed by these means is terminated at the end of a certain time period.
 9. A refrigerator unit and/or freezer unit in accordance with claim 1, wherein means are provided which are configured such that they prevent a repeat suppression of the operation of the at least one component for a specific time period from the point in time onward at which the suppression of the operation of the at least one component is ended.
 10. A system comprising a refrigerator unit and/or freezer unit in accordance with claim 1, wherein the system includes at least one transmitter unit by which the named signal can be communicated to the receiving device.
 11. A refrigerator unit and/or freezer unit in accordance with claim 2, wherein the control or regulation unit and/or the communication unit is formed by an external component or the control or regulation unit and/or the communication unit form/forms an element of at least one component of the refrigerator and/or freezer unit, in particular of the unit electronics.
 12. A refrigerator unit and/or freezer unit in accordance with claim 11, wherein means are provided by which the state in which the operation of the at least one component is suppressed can be ended at the user side; and/or means are provided by which the function of the suppressing of the operation of the component can be activated and/or deactivated on the user side.
 13. A refrigerator unit and/or freezer unit in accordance with claim 3, wherein means are provided by which the state in which the operation of the at least one component is suppressed can be ended at the user side; and/or means are provided by which the function of the suppressing of the operation of the component can be activated and/or deactivated on the user side.
 14. A refrigerator unit and/or freezer unit in accordance with claim 2, wherein means are provided by which the state in which the operation of the at least one component is suppressed can be ended at the user side; and/or means are provided by which the function of the suppressing of the operation of the component can be activated and/or deactivated on the user side.
 15. A refrigerator unit and/or freezer unit in accordance with claim 14, wherein the control or regulation unit is configured such that the suppression of the operation of the at least one component is carried out by the setting of at least one disable bit or disable flag.
 16. A refrigerator unit and/or freezer unit in accordance with claim 13, wherein the control or regulation unit is configured such that the suppression of the operation of the at least one component is carried out by the setting of at least one disable bit or disable flag.
 17. A refrigerator unit and/or freezer unit in accordance with claim 12, wherein the control or regulation unit is configured such that the suppression of the operation of the at least one component is carried out by the setting of at least one disable bit or disable flag.
 18. A refrigerator unit and/or freezer unit in accordance with claim 11, wherein the control or regulation unit is configured such that the suppression of the operation of the at least one component is carried out by the setting of at least one disable bit or disable flag.
 19. A refrigerator unit and/or freezer unit in accordance with claim 4, wherein the control or regulation unit is configured such that the suppression of the operation of the at least one component is carried out by the setting of at least one disable bit or disable flag.
 20. A refrigerator unit and/or freezer unit in accordance with claim 3, wherein the control or regulation unit is configured such that the suppression of the operation of the at least one component is carried out by the setting of at least one disable bit or disable flag. 